How To Start Planning The Perfect Military Wedding In 4 Simple Steps
If you or your partner, or both of you, are in the Army, Navy, Airforce or Marine Corp, it’s likely you’ll want a military wedding. Even if you are no longer in services, you may wish to plan a wedding that commemorates your military background. While not dissimilar to civilian weddings, it’s the traditions and attire that makes them stand out. It’s a day that shows patriotism, respect, and loyalty, as well as bringing together a couple who are made for one another. You may feel unsure or overwhelmed about the planning of such an event. The key thing to remember is that this is your big day, and you can incorporate as many or as few traditions as you like. This guide can assist you in making sure you plan your dream wedding with ease and get those military influenced details just right.
Talk to your partner
Before you do anything, you need to speak to your partner what kind of wedding day you both want. This is particularly important if one of you is not in the military and is not aware of the differing traditions and attire. Do some research together to learn more about the Sword or Saber Arch, the seating of officers and cutting the cake. If you are both in different sectors of the armed forces, the wedding traditions and etiquette may differ slightly. Once you both know a bit more, you can decide how much or how little you want the military to be a part of your big day. Writing a list of the things you like and dislike about weddings of this kind may make this process a lot easier. You may have the same ideas or have to compromise slightly to ensure you both get the wedding you desire. It’s one of the biggest days in your life, so it’s important that you make the time to thoroughly discuss it.
You will also need to talk about where you want the marriage to take place. You could choose your local church or have a wedding at your home. Or you could choose to get married in a military chapel or a historical building which holds military significance. Always find out what requirements these venues have. If you are no longer enlisted, you may need written to acquire written permission to be married in these establishments. With any wedding venue you will need to book these in advance, so don’t waste too much time in deciding.
Use your military discount
One of the perks of planning a military wedding is the discount that often comes with it. Many companies such as dress suppliers, jewelers, and florists offer a discount to couples in the armed forces. This can help you a lot financially, as it’s no secret that weddings are expensive. So don’t forget to use it when planning your wedding for potentially significant savings and perks. The discount will vary from place to place so do you research to find the best deal possible. Some places even hold events especially for military brides where they can get free dresses and beauty treatments. You can find lists online at Omni Financial or The Knot that state which retailers and vendors offer this discount. Or you can contact stores and potential venues directly through email or phone calls. The worst they can say is no, so never be afraid to ask. After all, every penny you can save the better. Just remember you to take some evidence with you that clearly states that you or your partner are in the military. As it is likely, they will ask for it.
Get your invites right
Arguably one of the most important parts of your big day is your wedding invites. Without them, you would have no guests to help you share your celebrations with. They give a glimpse into what kind of day you will be having and need to be sent out well in advance. So it’s crucial that you use military protocol when creating your invitations to save both money and embarrassment. There are many things you need to include, so the pressure is on the get it right. Find out the correct etiquette for military wedding invitations on sites like United with Love. Do this before you start placing orders. You will need to know the titles, rank and branch of service of you and your partner and your parents if they too have served previously. Practice writing your invites out on paper first before you start worrying about the design. Find a wedding stationer who has previously worked with military weddings before for guidance. Or as a superior officer to double check that you haven’t made any errors.
These steps should get the planning stages of your military wedding off to a fantastic start. So take what you have learned and start creating a big day you can look back on fondly.